GRAND FALLS, New Brunswick – Goaltender Samuel LeBlanc was perfect Wednesday night in Grand Falls, leading the Edmundston Blizzard to a seventh straight win, a 4-0 victory over the Rapids at the E. & P. Sénéchal Center.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper from Memramcook picked up his first shutout of the campaign. After having an easy time in the first 40 minutes with just 13 shots, LeBlanc had to made brilliant saves several times in the third period when the Rapids tried, but failed, to breach his wall. He earned the game’s second star by turning aside 25 pucks. The Blizzard fired 40 shots at Rapids (9-27-0-3) goaltender Adam Lecours.
Jérémy Ste-Marie shook off his lethargy of nine games without a goal when he scored his 13th of the campaign at 17:23 of the opening period. Thereafter, the Blizzard’s number-one line took matters into their own hands. Jérémy Fortin (1st star, 22nd), Philippe Collette (23rd) and Félix Bédard (30th) finished the evening with a goal and an assist each.
Collette collected at least one point in his 11th consecutive game. However, he is still a long way from the team record of 27 held by Olivier Coulombe (2022-2023). Defenseman Alexis Jacques (3rd star with an assist) is also on a roll with a six-game point streak. Jacques achieved the feat earlier in the season. This is a record for a Blizzard defenseman, which he shares with two other rearguards (Tristan Mercure and Jonathan Desrosiers).
The Blizzard (29-9-1-0) total 59 points, three more than the West Kent Steamers (27-10-2-0) at the top of the Eastlink North division. The two teams have played the same number of games (39). In the overall standing, the Blizzard are just two points behind the Summerside Western Capitals (27-5-3-4), leaders of the Eastlink South section.
The Blizzard need just one point to guarantee their place in the playoffs. Simon Olivier’s team can do just that on Thursday, February 1st (7:30 p.m.), when they host the Campbellton Tigers (14-22-1-0).
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Photo
Samuel LeBlanc enjoyed his first shutout of the season Wednesday night in Grand Falls. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone